Michigan's Lakeside City Between Lansing And Fort Wayne Is A Walkable Gem

Since Michigan is called the "Great Lakes State," there are plenty of spots with water views to visit. They aren't all along the four well-traveled Great Lakes that the Midwestern state borders, though. With 11,000 other lakes, you can certainly find a place away from crowds. Coldwater is the perfect spot. As you walk among its historic district, parks, and waterfront, you'll find an undiscovered gem between Lansing, Michigan and Fort Wayne, the most underrated tourist spot in Indiana.

This spot, along numerous lakes in the Randall Chain-of-Lakes of southern Michigan, was originally called "Chuck-sey-ya-bish," or "Cold Water," by the Potawatomi people, who lived in the Great Lakes area. The name, after briefly being called Lyons, stuck as schools, churches, and courthouses were built during the 19th century. Coldwater was officially founded in 1861. It's now a thriving, walkable city home to about 14,000 people.

The closest airport, Kalamazoo/Battle Creek International Airport (AZO), is about an hour northwest of Coldwater. Though only nonstop flights from Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD) and Detroit Metro Airport (DTW) land there, both connections are large international airports that receive nonstop flights from around the world. It doesn't hurt that the latter Midwest mega airport was just named the best in North America. If you're driving from Fort Wayne, you can stop at one of Indiana's oldest state parks nestled on a pretty lake. Pokagon State Park is conveniently located near U.S. Route 69 just south of the Michigan border.

The best way to get to know Coldwater is to walk around. You can explore buildings from the Victorian era on a one-, three-, or five-mile historic walking tour. One building on Chicago Street, Coldwater's main road, has served as a cultural center since 1869. It was constructed as the H.C. Lewis Art Gallery, home to the biggest art collection outside New York City. It then became the local Y.M.C.A. before being turned into the Coldwater Masonic Temple, which it remains today.

A grand home on Jefferson Street was built in 1875 by the Chandler family in the Victorian Second Empire style. Less than a decade later, the Wing family purchased the property, eventually turning it into the Wing House Museum, dedicated to what life was like in Coldwater in the late 19th century. Also, the Tibbits Opera House, the second-oldest theater in Michigan, was built in 1882. It became a movie theater and was renovated numerous times. After a grand restoration project, the Art Deco building is now a 499-seat theater that's listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

You can also go on an Art Walking Tour of Coldwater. Interesting spots on this tour include "Branching Out," a 16-foot tree sculpture; "Balanced Beams," an installation across from the Tibbits Opera House; and the Children's Museum mural, a wall covered with huge flowers. Coldwater's exciting art scene is helping to make the city an even more walkable destination.

Heading west, you'll find a lot of green space between the center of Coldwater and the lakes. Heritage Park is the place to play. The large park — covering more than 200 acres — includes an Olympic-sized pool, a softball-and-soccer complex, tennis courts, and a waterslide. It also has short trails that are used for biking and walking. Rotary Park, to the south, is right along the edge of the water. It features a boat launch and wooden fishing pier, where you might catch a rock bass or brown trout if you bring your rod.

Then Memorial Park is across the water. This park may be small at only 30 acres, but it has the best beach in Coldwater. You can stay overnight here, too, since the park has two cabins and 52 campsites. Another camping option is farther north. Raymond's Landing Campground rents campers, as well as fishing and pontoon boats. You can also borrow a kayak or make s'mores around a fire pit during your stay.

You don't have to go out on a boat to enjoy them, though. Willow's Bar and Grill, along the Coldwater River, has a large deck that overlooks the water. You can order a burger or perch fillet sandwich while watching the boats slowly go by. It's the ideal spot to wait for the sun to start setting. A pretty water view is exactly what you were hoping to find along this quiet Michigan lake.